Distributor



Aug. 13, 1929. L B SAUER 1,724,682

DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 24, 1924 2 Sheets-sheet 1 IWW? E Inl/H772? Umb-E' 55u51,

Aug- 13, 1929- 1 B. sAuER 1,724,682

DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 24, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 2 Eg-7 E770-T@ y.

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS B. SAUER, OF WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- TO KELLOGG SWITCH- BOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS7 A CORPORATION OF ILLI- NOIS.

DISTRIBUTOR.

Application led April 24,

My invention relates to improvements in current controllers commonly called ignition distributors for the electric ignition of internal combustion engines and is particularly intended for use in engines which are subject to various and sudden changes of speed, such as automobile engines.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a particularly designed rotor 10 contact carrying element which is positioned within my distributor and adapted to be rotated by power imparted by a rotatable shaft associated with said rotor element,

and which rotor element is provided with a pair of slots or openings for effecting the circulation of air within the distributor, the casing of my distributor being provided with air holes to permit the passage of air into and out of my distributor.

Another feat-ure of my invention is the provision of a pair of current conducting members for effecting certain circuits controlled by my distributor and the manner in which I secure said members in operative position on said rotor element against actuat-ion and displacement.

Another feature of my invention is the manner inwhich I operatively connect and associate the auxiliary shaft of my distributor with the main shaft.

Still another feature of my invention is the provision of a supporting plate which has four ears integrally formed therewith, two of said ears adapted to receive pivot pins which pivotally support the Weighted members of the spark advance mechanism of my distributonand the other two of said ears adapted to receive members to which are secured springs for controlling the restoration of said weighted members to their normal position.

The above features, as well as others, will be more specifically set forth inthe ensuing specification and for a clearer understanding of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters in the several views denote like parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the distributor of my invention showing the distributor head or top cover thereof removed to expose certain of the interior parts of my distributor;

1924. Serial No. 708,611.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my distributor along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the spark advance control means of my distributor showlng the supporting plate of my invention.

and also the weighted members and spring restoring means supported on said supporting plate and in their normal position, and further showing t-he enclosing casing in section;

Fig. 4; is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the weighted members and spring restoring means in their maximum operated or advanced positions;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a bottom plan view instead of a top plan view;

Fig. 6 is a side plan view of the spark advance control mechanism of my distributor showing a part of the enclosing casing in section;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the rotor element of my invention showing the air circulating slots and also Contact members secured thereon; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the rotor contact carrying element of my invention along the line S-S of Fig. 7.

Referring now in detail to my invention as shown in the drawings, the distributor of my invention comprises an enclosing cup shaped casing EC which is provided with an integrally formed hub or sleeve l having a central opening 2 extending therethrough. The central opening 2 is adapted to receive a cylindrical rotatable driving shaft 3, which has an enlarged end 4 engaging and resting upon the internal end 1 of the sleeve l, the said sleeve l serving as a bearing for the rotatable shaft 3 and, as is apparent, the enlarged end 4 of the shaft bearing upon the end 1 of the sleeve l will prevent downward movement of said shaft 3. A cylindrical member 6 is provided and is adapted to fit over the end of the shaft 3 and is retained thereon against displacement and rotation relative to said shaft 3 by means of a plug 7 which engages suitably aligned openings in the shaft 3 and the said member 6. To prevent the removal of said plug 7 I provide a flexible coil 8 which engages a suitable circumferential groove 9 formed in the member 6 and in alignment with the openings engaged by said plug 7 whereby said plug 7 lies in a plane with-in said coil 8. The member 6 1s adapted to prevent upward movement of the shaft 3 and is also adapted to fit into a suitable opening in a shaft of the engine with which my distributor may be used, the connection of the member 6 with the engine shaft being such that rotary movement is imparted to the shaft 3 by the engine when the'engine is running.

The enlarged end 4 of shaft 3 is reduced and has an opening 10 provided therein, the purpose of said opening 1() to be pointed out later. A plate 12 is provided which has a suitable opening adapted to permit the said plate 12 to fit over the reduced end of engage the openings in the the enlarged end 4 of the shaft 3, whereby said plate 12 will engage the enlarged end 4 ofthe shaft 3 and the reduced end of said shaft is then staked over to prevent the re moval of said plate 12 from the shaft 3, and the engagement of the reduced end in the opening in the plate 12 is such as will pre'ventrotary movement of said plate 12 relative to said shaft 3. The plate 12 carries the control mechanism that operates to automatically advance the spark as the speed of the driving shaft increases. The plate 12 is provided Vwith integrally formed ears 14, 15, 16 and 17, each of said ears being provided with an orifice. The weighted members 19 consist of laminations of sheet metalv and are pivoted diagonally opposite each other on pivot pins 16 and 17 which integrally formed ears 16 and 17 respectively and are suitably secured therein against displacement by a staking operation. rlhe weighted members 19 are separated from the plate 12 by collars 20 integrally formed with the said pins and are prevented from being removed from the pivot pins 16 and 17 by washers 21 and cotter pins 22 which engage the free ends of the said pivot pins. The laminations of each weighted member 19 are held together by means of suitable rivet-s extending through said laminations Vto form a single movable unit. An auxiliary shaft 25 is provided which has its one end 25 reduced to a size that will lit into the opening 10 provided in the enlarged end 4 of the shaft 3 and bring the flange 26 formed integrally with the auxiliary shaft 25 into engagement with the end of the driving shaft 3 and a portion of the top face of the plate 12, said plate 12 and end 4 of the shaft 3 forming a bearing for the auxiliary shaft 25. The opening 10 in shaft 3 is such as to permit movement of the auxiliary shaft 25 relative to said shaft 3. A plate 27 havmg a pair of slots 28 is slipped on over the end of the auxiliary shaft 25 and brought into engagement thereon with the flange 26 and a portion 28 of the shaft 25 is then staked over to secure the plate 27 in posi tion on said shaft 25 against displacement and rotary movement relative to said shaft 25. The slots 28 in the plate 27 are .of a size to permit the protrusion of a pair of extended rivets 29 securing the laminations of the weighted members 19 together, the free ends of said rivets 29 being provided with a circumferential groove 30.

lThe free ends of the Weighted members 19 extend inwardly and are each provided with a semi-circular recess to permit the auxiliary shaft 25 to extend therethrough. The pins 29 of the weights normally contact the plate 12 when the Weights are 1n normal position to limit the inner movement of the weights. In order to maintain the Weighted members 19 in their normal inert position and to restore said members to normal position, a pair of helical springs 32 are provided which have their one end engaging the grooves in the free ends of the rivets 29 and their other end engaging circumferential grooves 33 suitably formed in the free ends of pins 34, which pins 34 are suitably secured in suitable lopenings in the rears 14 and 15 of the plate 12. The ears 14 and 15 of the plate 12 in which the pins 34 are secured are so positioned that the pins 34 are positioned, relative to the rivets 29 secured in the free ends of the weighted members, so that thel helical springs 32 exert a pull upon the pins 29 at such an angle that the weighted members 19. tend to assume their normal position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. When motion is imparted to the shaft 3, said shaft Will in turn impart rotary motion to the auxiliary shaft 25 and both shafts will rotate together and upon reaching a certain rate of rotary movement the weighted members 19 will move about their pivots 16 and 17 in an outward direction against the tension of springs 32, due to centrifugal force and the extent of the outward movement will be limited by the length of the slots 28 in the plate 27 through which the pins 29 are adapted to slide. Now, due to the movement of the weighted member 19 and the pins 29 moving outwardly in the slots 28, the plate will move in a rotary direction to rotate the auxiliary shaft 25 in yan advanced direction relative to the driving shaft 3 to automatically advance the spark aswill be understood after reading the ensumg specification.

A plate having cut away portions is provided and has an integrally formed cup 4l in which is secured and Vsupported any suitable standard type ball bearings 42 and ball bearing races 43, said' plate 40 being supportedv in the casing EC on ears 44 integrally formed with the casing EC and is held on said ears 44 by suitable screws 45 which pass through suitable openings inthe plate 450 and have screw-threaded engage-v ment with suitably tapped orifices in the ears 44, the heads of said screws 45 being sunk into the plate 40 so that their top surface is Hush with the top surface of said plate 40. One of the ball bearing races 43 is secured to the reduced end of the shaft 25 by a drive fit and rests upon the circumferential shoulder 46 of said shaft 25. A plate 48 rests upon the plate 40 and a washer 49 fits around the shaft 25 and rests upon one of the races 43, said plate 48 and washer 49 serve as separating means and also prevent foreign matter from getting between the ball bearing races 43. A felt washer 50 is provided which rests immediately below the washer 49 and is for the usual oiling and sealing purpose. A collar 50 fits over the shaft 25 and engages the washer 49, and a split ring 51 i-s provided which engages a circumferential groove 52 formed in the shaft 25 'to prevent longitudinal movement of the different parts on the reduced portion of the shaft 25.

An insulating plate 54, a metal ring 55 and a metal conducting plate 56 are provided which are secured on the plate 40 by suitable screws 57, said ring 55 and plate 56 being insulated from the plate 48 and said plate 4() by the insulating plate 54, and suitable insulating bushings insulate the screws 57 from the ring 55 and plate 56. A pair of interrupter contacts 60 and 61 are pivotally supported by suitable pivot pins 62 and 63 respectively, which pins are suitably secured in openlngs in the ring. 55 and plates 54 and 56 but suitably insulated therefrom and which do not have contactual engagement with the plates 40 and 48. Adjustable contacts 65 and 66 are provided which are secured to and supported on a pair of angular members 68 and 68', respectively, which are formed integrally with the conducting plate 56, said contacts 65 and 66 adapted to make contactual engagement with the interrupter contacts 60 and 61 respectively. The interrupter contacts 60 and 61 are spring pressed into engagement with contacts 65 and 66 respectively by spring members s and s'. A cam member 67 having a central opening is provided and is adapted to fit over the end of the shaft 25 and rest upon the split ring 51 so that the octagonal peripheral edge 69 of the cam 67 rests between and is adapted to engage the insulating buffers 70 secured to the interrupter contacts 60 and 61. The end of the shaft 25 is split and a screw 71 has screw threaded engagement with said split end and is of such a size and shape that when screwed into the said split end said split end will spread and engage the inner wall of the cam 67 to thereby prevent the removal of said cam 67 and to also prevent rotary movement of said cam 67 relative to the shaft 25.

The rotor element R of my distributor comprises a circular shaped disk 7 5 of suitable non-conducting material which is provided with va pair of diametrically opposed elongated openings 76 which openings have one side 77 of their Wall slanting for purposes to be presently described. A block 7 8 is formed integrally with the disk and has its one end 79 cut down to form a step 80. Moulded in the block 78 is a stud 81 which has one of its ends protruding above the step 80; a contact -spring 82 and a conducting member 83, each having suitable orifices, are provided and adapted to fit over said protruding end and rest upon the step 80 and are secured thereon by the stud 81, which has its end extending through the openings in the conducting member 83 and contact spring 82, upset. The conducting member 83 has direct contactual engagement with the contact spring 82 and extends slightly beyond the end 79 of the block 78 for purposes to be pointed out later. To prevent rotary movement of the member 82 and contact -spring 83 on the block 78 I provide a pair of ears 85 which are formed integrally on the step 80 of the block 78 and are adapted to engage the said member 83 and contact spring 82 to prevent rotary movement of said member and contact spring. A central opening 86 is provided in the'disk 75 and extends partially into the block 78, and is of a size and shape to fit loosely over the reduced end 87 of the cam 67 so that the collar 88 formed integrally with the disk 75 rests upon the circumferential shoulder 89 and the end of the opening 86 rests upon the end of the said reduced end 87, and to prevent rotary movement of said disk 75 on the cam 67 said cam 67 is provided with a pair of flat surfaces 89 and 90 adapted to engage similar flat surfaces formed in the Wall of the central opening 86.

Air holes al are provided in the casing EC for permitting air currents to pass into and out of the interior of my distributor.

A cover cap or distributor head CC is provided for my distributor which has a plurality of suitable terminals 92 suitably secured therein and adapted to receive external conductors which have connection with the spark plugs of the engine with which my distributor is used, there being a terminal 92 for each spark plug, and the distributor is also provided with a suitable terminal 93 for receiving an external conductor extending from a source of current, or from a coil, said cover cap or distributor head CC adapted to fit over the open end of the casing EC and rest upon a circumferential shoulder 94 formed in the casing EC. To secure the head CC on the casing EC against displacement a pair of spring members 95 are provided and pivotally supported by suitable means on the side of the casing EC, which members 95 are adapted to engage a pair of ears 96 formed integrally with the cover cap CC; means also are pro'- vided for positioning the cap relative to the casingEC. lVhen the distributor head CC is. in position on the casing EC as shown in Fig. 2, the free end of the contact spring 82 willengage the contact member 97 secured in the terminal 93 and the extending end 99 of the conducting member 83 will be opposite the inserted end of the terminal 92 but slightly separated therefrom by a small air gap. The contact spring 82 due to its spring tension will tend to hold the rotor element down on the cam 67. A condenser C is provided and secured on a fiat portion of the casing EC by suitable screws 100 and serves for the well known purposes.

Oil cups 101 and 102 are provided and have screw-threaded engagement with suitably tapped orifices in the casing EC forV conducting oil to the distributor shafts. The oil cup 102 feeds into the bearing sleeve 160 pressed into the sleeve 1. A, resistance unit RU is provided for the well known purposes and is secured to the'casing EC by a bolt 101i and nut 105, said resistance unit RU being conductively connected .with the interrupter contacts 60 and 61 through a terminal screw 106 which has conductive connection with the plate 56 which is conductively connected with the interrupter contacts 60 and 6l.

For manually adjusting the distributor, lever mechanism is connected to the casing to oscillate the same. To limit the manual adjust-ment of the casing the same is provided with an integrally formed bracket 107 which has a slot 108.

YHaving described the construction of the distributor of my invention, l will now give a brief description of its operation.

When the engine with which my distributor is operatively associated is ruiming or operating rotary motion is imparted to the driving shaft 3 and member 6 whereupon said shaft 3 will rotate in and on the bearing sleeve 1 of the casing EC. .'The plate 12 being secured to the shaft 3 against rotary movement will also rotate with the shaft 3, and the auxiliary shaft 25 being operatively associated with the driving shaft 3 and the helical springs 82 interconnecting the plate 12 and weighted members 19, said auxiliary shaft 25 together with the parts supported thereon will rotate simultaneously with the shaft 3 so that the corners on the cam 67 will rot-ate into engagement with the buffers to operate the interrupter contacts 60 and 6l to cause the same to disengage and engage the stationary contacts 65 and 66 respectively thereby interrupting the ignition circuit. rhe auxiliary shaft 25 will rotate in synchronism with the shaft 3 until a certain rate of speed of rotation is reached which speed will cause the weighted members 19 pivotally supported on the late 12 to move outwardly by centrifugal torce and overcome the spring tension of the helical springs 32, Vand the rivets 29 moving through'the grooves 28-in the plat-e 27, and due to the position of the grooves 28 in the plate 27, said plate 27 will be rotated and in turn will rotate the auxiliary shaft 25 inan advanced or clockwise direction relative tothe driving shaft 3, whereby the cam 67 secured on the shaft 25 will also rot-ate with the shaft 25 to an advanced positionr so thatthe corners of said cam will make an earlier engagement with the buffers'70 of the interrupter contacts thereby advancing the spark, as will be obvious to and understood by those skilled in the art.,v The weighted members 19 will move out to their maximum extent, which movement is measured by the length of the slots 28 in the plate 27, to advance the spark a predetermined maximum amount when the speed of rotation hasreached a certain rate of speed, and as the rate of speed decreases and drops below that necessary to maintain the weighted members in .their maximum operated position by centrifugal force the springs 32 will gradually restore the weighted members 19 and the auxiliary shaft 25 will, through the medium of the pins 29 and the plate 27, move in a counter clockwise direction relative to the driving shaft 3 thereby retarding the spark as will be clearly understood by those familiar with "he art. From the-'above it will be seen that the driving shaft 3 serves as a bearingfor the auxiliary shaft 25. When the shaft 25 is rotating the free end of the contact spring 82 rotates under the contact 97 secured to the terminal 93 and the conducting member 83 rotates with the rotor disk 75 whereby the free end of the conducting member 83 is brought opposite'the inserted ends of the terminals 92 and will establish a sparking circuit with the pa rticular terminal 92 whose inserted end is opposite the freeend of the conducting memberl 83.4

Air currents are permitted to pass` through the air holes t provided kin the casing EC in close proximity to the disk 75, and when said disk is rotating the slots 76 in said disk 75, due to the sl-anting wall 77 in said slots 76, will fan the air to effect the circulation of the air within the distributor, and the slant-ing wall 77 in slots 76 also draws the air up into the top of the distributor as the air passes into the distributor Vso that the fresh air will circulate in the top of the distributor where the sparking circuit is established.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact structure as shown and described as changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves, therefore, it is to be understood that I intend to claim all that which may come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What 1 claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described including a rotatable driving shaft having an opening formed in one of its ends, a. plate secured on said one end against rotary movement, ears formed integrally with said plate, an auxiliary shaft having an integrally formed fiange, said auxiliary shaft rotatably supported on said driving shaft by having one of its ends engaging said opening and said flange bearing upon the end of said driving shaft and upon said plate, a second plate having a cent-ral cup-shaped portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said auxiliary shaft to rotatably support the same, a cam member, an expanding screw adapted to have screw threaded engagement with a split end of said auxiliary shaft to secure said cam member to said shaft and prevent displacement of said cam relative to said shaft, means including a plate secured to said auxiliary shaft and a pair of weighted members pivotally supported on a pair of pivot pins secured in a pair of said ears for rotating said auxiliary shaft relative to said driving shaft, and spring restoring means secured to members secured to the other of said ears and operatively connected to said weighted members for restoring the same to their normal position whereby said auxiliary shaft is restored to normal relative to said driving shaft.

2. A device of the class described including a rotatable driving shaft, a plate having ears diagonally and integrally formed therewith secured to said driving shaft against rotary movement, an auxiliary shaft rotatably supported in and on one end of said driving shaft, a second plate having a cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said auxiliary shaft, pins secured in said integrally formed ears, means including a plate secured to said auxiliary shaft and a pair of weighted members for rotating said auxiliar shaft relativa to said :driving shaft, said pair of weighted members being pivotally supported on a pair of said pins, a cam member, a split end for said auxiliary shaft, an expanding screw adapted to expand said split end to secure said cam to said shaft, and restoring means including a pair of helical springs for restoring said auxiliary shaft to normal position relative to said driving shaft, said springs operatively connected at their one end to said pair of weighted members and having their other end secured to the other of said pins secured in said ears.

3. A device of the class described including a driving shaft, a plate having ears integrally formed therewith and at the corners thereof secured on said driving shaft, an auxiliary shaft having a split end rotatably supported upon said driving shaft and said plate, a second plate having a cupshaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said auxiliary shaft, a cam member, an expanding screw adapted to expand the split end of said shaft to secure said cam member to said shaft, members secured to said ears, means including a pair of weighted members for rotatably advancing said auxiliaryshaft relativeto said driving shaft, said weighted members being pivotally supported upon a pair of said members, and means including a plate secured to said auxiliary shaft and a pair of springs for rotatably restoring said auxiliary shaft from its advanced position, said pair of springs having one of their ends operatively connected to said weighted members and their other ends secured to the other of said first members.

4. A device of the class described including a driving shaft, a pla-tel having ears integrall formed therewith and at the corners thereo secured on said driving shaft, a second shaft having a split end rotatably supported upon said driving shaft and said plate, a second plate having a central cupshaped portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said second shaft to rotatably support the same, a cam member, an expanding screw adapted to engage the split end of said second shaft to expand the same to secure said cam to said shaft, members secured to said ears, means, including a pair of weighted members having pins secured thereto, for rotatably advancing said second shaft relative to said first shaft, said weighted members being pivotally supported on a pair of said members, and means, including a plate secured to said auxiliary shaft and a pair of spring members secured to said pair of pins and to the other of said first members, for rotatably restoring said second shaft relative to said first shaft, said other members and the ears supporting the same being positioned so that said spring members will always tend to hold said weighted members in their normal position.

5. A device of the class described including a rotor element of non-conducting material, a shaft having a split end, a cam member adapted to engage said split end, a screw adapted to expand said split end to maintain the said cam secured thereon, a plate having a cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said shaft to rotatably support said shaft, said rotor element having an opening to permit said rotor element to be supported on said cam against rotation, a member moulded in said rotor element against removal and having one of its ends extending out of said rot-or element, a conducting member and a contact spring secured on said Vopening formed therein, a pinI moulded in said member and having one of its ends extending out of said member, a pair of conducting members provided with orifices for fitting over said protruding end and secured on said first member by said pin, a pair of ears formed integrally with said first member and adapted to engage saidV pair of conducting members to prevent rotatien of said conducting members relative to said first member, a shaft having a split end, a member secured on said shaft against rotary movementby a screw adapted to expand the split end of said shaft to maintain said member secured thereon and adapted to engage the opening in said irst member against rotation, a plate having a. cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said shaft for rotatably supportingthe said shaft and means for effecting rotary movement of said shaft.

7. A device of the character described including an enclosing casing, a rotor element of non-conducting material, ay stud having one end moulded and secured in said rotor element while its other end extends out of said rotor element, a conducting member and a contact spring provided with openings adapted to fit over said extending end and secured on said rotor element by said stud, members integrally formed with said rotor element adapted to engage said conduct-ing member and contact spring to prevent rotation of said conducting member and said contact spring on said rotor element, a distributer head having a plurality of terminals secured therein supported on said distributer, a. shaft having a'split end, a cam member adapted to be secured to said shaft by means of a screw adapted to expand said split end, said cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor element within said casing so that said cont-act spring has constant contactual engagement with one of said terminals and said conducting member is operatively associated with the other of said terminals, and a plate member extending across said casing and having a Vcup-shaped central portion adapted toreceive ball bearing means secured to said shaft whereby said shaft is rotatably supported and positioned.v

8. A device of the character described including an enclosing casing, a rotor elementof non-conducting material, a stud having one end moulded and secured in said rotor element while its other end extends out of said rotor element, a conducting member and a contact spring provided with openings adapt-ed to fit over said extending 'end and secured on said rotor element by said stud, members integrally formed with said rotor element adapted to engage said conducting member -andcontact spring to prevent rotation of said conducting member and said contact spring on said rotor element, a. distributor head having a plurality of terminals secured therein supported on said distributor, a shaft having a split end, a cam member adapted to be secured to said shaft by means of a screw adapted to expand said split end, said cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor element within said casing so that said contact spring has constant contractual engagement with one of said terminals and said conducting member isoperatively associated with the other of said terminals, a. plate extending acrossl said casing and having a cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said shaft whereby said shaft is rotatably supported and positioned, and means for effecting rotary movement of said first means and said rotor element to effect circuits through said one terminal, said contact spring, said conducting member and said other terminals.

9. A device of the character described including an enclosing casing, a. rotor element of non-conductingmaterial, a stud having one end moulded and secured in said rotor element while its` other end extends out of said rotor element, a conducting member and a ContactV spring provided with openings adapted to lit over said extending end and secured on said rotor element by said stud, members integrally formed with said rotor element and adapted to engage said conducting member and Said Contact spring to prevent rotation of said conduct-ing member and said contact spring on said rotor element,

`a distributor head, having ya plurality of terminals secured therein, supported on said casing, a shaft having a split end, a cam member adapted to be secured to said shaft by means of a screw adapted to expand said split end, said cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor `element within said casing so that saidcontact spring has constant contactual engagement with one of said terminals and said conducting member is operatively associated with the other of said terminals, a plate extending across said casing and having a cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said `shaft whereby said shaft is rotatably supported and positioned,

iso

and means for effecting rotary movement of said iirst means and said rotor element to bring said conducting member' into operative position with said terminals in succession.

10. A device of the class described including a casing provided with air holes, a distributor head having a plurality of terminals secured on said casing, a non-conducting rotor element provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots, a stud secured in said rotor element, conducting members secured on said rotor element by said stud, a shaft having a split end, a cani member adapted to ent-er an orifice in said rotor element, said cam adapted to be secured to said shaft'by a screw adapted to expand said split end in an orifice in said cam, said, cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor element within said casing and in close proximity to said air holes and also in position so that one of said conducting members has constant contactual engagement with one of said terminals while the other of said conducting members is adapted to be rotated successively in opera.- tive position with the other of said terminals, a plate extending across said casing and having a cup-shaped central portion adapted to receive ball bearing means secured to said shaft whereby said shaftis rotatably supported and positioned, and means for effecting rotation of said means and said rotor element, whereby said pair of slots in said rotor element effects circulation of air within said casing.

11. A device of the class described including a cup-shaped casing provided with air holes, a distributor head having a plurality of distributors supported on said easing and adapted to close the open end of said casing, a non-conducting rotor element having conducting members secured thereon, said rotor element provided with slots, each slot having a part of its wall slanting relative to the other portion of said wall, a shaft having a split end, a cam member of a size to enter an orifice in said rotor element, said cam adapted to be secured to said shaft by a screw provided to expand said split end in an orifice in said cam, said cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor element within said easing in close proximity to said air holes so that said conducting members are operatively positioned relative to said terminals, said slots adapted to circulate air within said casing and to draw the -air up into the top of said device as it passes into said casing to effect circulation of the same directly below said distributor head and around said conducting members and said terminals.

12. A device of the class described including a. cup-shaped casing provided with air holes, a distributor head having a plurality of terminals supported on said casing and adapted to close the open end of said casing, a rotor element having conducting members secured thereon against rotation, a shaft having a split end, a. cam member having an extension of a size to enter an orifice in said rotor element, said cam adapted to be secured to said shaft by a screw provided to expand said split end in an orifice in said cam, said cam and shaft forming means for rotatably supporting said rotor element` within said casing and in close proximity to said air holes and said conducting members in operative position relative to said terminals, said rotor element being provided with slots each having an inclined wall portion, said slots adapted to circulate air within said casing and to conduct air directl to said conducting members and said terminals as it passes into said casing.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the count of Cook and State of Illinois, this 22d day of April, 1924.

LOUIS B. SAUER. 

